I recently watched a thought-provoking TED (Technology, Education, and Design) talk where a street magician spoke on the power of misdirection. Our brains have difficulty focusing on two things at once, and magicians exploit this by drawing our attention to one thing so that we won’t notice that they’re doing something else. In the video, the speaker so dazzled the audience with a series of magic tricks that they failed to realize that he had actually changed his clothes during the performance!
There’s a similar trick at work in the temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). In the previous passage, in which Jesus was baptized, God the Father called Jesus His beloved and pleasing Son (Matthew 3:17)—just as any good father would. But what’s interesting is how the enemy addressed Jesus in the temptation. Satan specifically omits the part about Jesus being beloved and pleasing, and instead calls into question His identity as the Son of God: “If you are the Son of God . . .” (Matthew 4:3,6). The enemy does this on purpose, knowing that if Jesus were reminded of the Father’s love for Him, he would have no chance to tempt Christ to fail to do His Father’s will. It was a trick of misdirection on a grand and cosmic scale!
The devil did the same thing to Eve in the garden of Eden, suggesting that God didn’t want her to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because He didn’t want her to become powerful, not because He loved her (Genesis 3:4-5). And once she doubted that God cared for her, the fall was imminent.
Let’s plant our eyes firmly on our loving God (Romans 8:38-39). If our eyes are fixed there, the enemy doesn’t stand a chance to trick us!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18
More:
Read Lamentations 3:22-27 for a beautiful description of God’s love and how steadfast and faithful He is.
Next:
How do you celebrate God’s love for you? What are the circumstances or emotions that cause you to doubt His care and love?
gary1schelvan on December 8, 2015 at 12:31 am
Thanks so much Peter, a great posting on the tricks, lies and deception of the evil one, Satan. It has been my experience in my walk as a Christian, that the closer we draw to the Lord and the stronger we become in our faith, trusting in God’s divine plan for our lives…the more frequently and stronger Satan will attack us with lies and deception. Get us to doubt the Lord’s love and care for us. As you said at the end of your posting, keep our eyes firmly on our loving God, then Satan doesn’t strand a chance to trick us.
When I was attending regular AA ( Alcoholic Anonymous) meetings some years back, they taught us a saying, “H.A.L.T. Don’t get to hungry, angry, lonely or tired.” If you find yourself slipping into any of those modes, you can become weak and so susceptible to all of Satan” tricks and lies…Eyes on the PRIZE!….MERRY CHRISTmas to all my brother and sisters wherever you are, what a gift He has given us! I am so truly and eternally grateful.
Gary Shultz on December 8, 2015 at 6:35 am
Very insightful, I like the lesson drawn from the TED. We must assure ourselves first of God’s love for us and our focus will be much better. Thank you, enjoy a blessed Christmas.
Tom Felten on December 8, 2015 at 11:08 am
Peter, thanks for reminding us to stay fixed on the faithfulness and love of God. How the evil one loves to encourage us to doubt Him and His goodness! But as we live out grateful lives before God, focusing on Him and His love, it’s more difficult to fall for satan’s schemes.
godlove on December 8, 2015 at 1:44 pm
Thanks. This reminds me of the verse in Paul’s letter Hebrews 12:1-2, “Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.”